24 January 2013

Lenbachhaus Museum to reopen on 8 May

The remodelled Lenbachhaus Museum in Munich is to open to the public on 8 May. The first works of art are now being installed, and a press preview was held last week to reveal progress so far and to introduce Foster + Partners' design, which will transform the experience for visitors.

The Museum’s historic buildings have been carefully restored and the exhibition spaces augmented by a spectacular new wing, with an entire new floor of state-of-the-art galleries. These provide an ideal environment for viewing the magnificent ‘Blue Rider’ collection and incorporate a pioneering new LED lighting solution. As well as radically improving the buildings’ environmental performance, the remodelling has created a new entrance and social spaces, including a restaurant, terrace, education facilities and a dramatic full-height atrium, where the old is articulated within the new. The atrium features a large-scale work of art by Olafur Eliasson entitled Wirbelwerk, a spiral of polished metal and coloured glass that reaches down from the ceiling.